Necktie stretcher

ABSTRACT

The invention is a tie stretcher having two generally parallel arms, the upper ends of which are inserted in a tie. A body member, having opposed spaced plates and side members, receives the lower portion of the arms. Upper and lower slots are defined by the body member. The upper slot mounts a fulcrum pin while the lower slot mounts a holding pin.

United States Patent 1191 Zaun 1541 NECKTIE STRETCHER [76] Inventor: Herbert Zaun, 433 Victoria Place,

Toledo, Ohio 43610 [22] Filed: April 8, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 132,380

[52] US. Cl ..223/82 [51] Int. Cl. ..D06c 15/00 [58] Field 61 Search ..223/6l, 63, 65, 82, 72, 74

[56] References Cited UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 1,816,349 7 1931 Syren ..223/65 2,652,956 9 1953 RiCCk 1,864,705 6 1932 Wilson 1,818,889 8 1931 Garfinkel ..223 65 1 51 Jan.16,' 1973 12 1925 Marson .L ..223/65 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 165,777 '2/l934 Switzerland ..223/65 Primary Examiner.lames R. Boler Assistant Examiner-G. V. Larkin Attorney-Owen & Owen [57] ABSTRACT The invention is a tie stretcher having two generally parallel arms, the upper ends of which are inserted in a tie. A body member, having opposed spaced plates and side members, receives the lower portion of the arms. Upper and lower slots are defined by thebody member. The upper slot mounts a fulcrum pin while the lower slot mounts a holding pin.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 16 I973 SHEET 1 UF 2 myENToR: HERBERT ZAUN.

ATTYS] PATENTEDJAH 16 1915 3.710.995

sum 2 BF 2 I INVENTOR. 15'7 HERBERT ZAUN.

ATTYE;

NECKTIE STRETCHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a necktie stretcher which is normally utilized during the cleaning of a necktie. Because neckties come in assorted lengths and widths, several problems occur. Necktie stretchers have been known in the prior art. However, in prior art devices, many of the adjustments for the width of a given necktie were made to conform with the bottom of the tie. When prior art necktie stretchers had arms which were joined at their upper ends, it was very difficult to properly stretch the tie throughout its length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a necktie stretcher which is readily adjustable to the width of a given necktie. The stretcher includes first and second longitudinally extending arms. The arms have free ends for insertion in a tie and opposed ends which are received in a body member. The body member includes fulcrum means for positioning one of the arms at a pivot point a predetermined distance from the other arm. The necktie stretcher also includes means for holding the opposed end of the pivoted arm in its pivoted position. After the necktie stretcher is in its pivoted position, the free ends of the arms stretch the tie and are closely adjacent the edges of the tie throughout its contacted length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tie stretcher according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tie stretcher shown in FIG. 1, drawn on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tie stretcher shown in FIG,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a tie stretcher during its initial insertion in a tie;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the fulcrum pin being moved to its proper position; and

. FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, showing the tie stretcher in its pivoted position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A tie stretcher according to the present invention is generally indicated in the drawings by the reference number 10. The tie stretcher 10 includes first and second longitudinally extending arms 11 and 12. In the present embodiment, the arms 12 are flat metallic strips having free ends 13 and opposed ends 14. The free ends 13 and the opposed ends 14 are provided with holes 15 which may be used, for example, by a commercial dry cleaner to rack a plurality of the tie stretchers 10.

The tie stretcher 10 includes a body member 18 having spaced plates 19 and 20. Side members 21 and 22 (see FIG. 5) are positioned between the plates 19 and of the body member 18 and are connected to the plates 19 and 20 by bolts 23, or other fastening means.

laterally toward the opposed end 14 of the second arm 12. Of course, other types of restraining means may be utilized.

In the present embodiment, an upper slot 28 is defined through the plates 19 and 20 adjacent the upper end of the'body member 18. Similarly, a lower slot 29 extends through the plates 19 and 20 adjacent the lower end of the body member 18. A bolt assembly '30 including a fulcrum pin 31 is mounted for movement along the upper slot 28. When the bolt assembly 30 is moved to a proper fulcrum position, a nut 32 is tightened to-hold the fulcrum pin 31 at the fulcrum position. A

A bolt assembly 33 including a holding pin 34 (see FIG. 4) is mounted for movement in the lower slot 29. The bolt assembly 33 including the holding pin 34 serves as holding means for the opposed end 14 of the second arm 12 after the second arm 12 has been moved to a pivoted position.

Referring to FIGS. 6-8, during a normal stretching operation, the free ends 13 of the arms 11 and 12 are moved upwardly into a tie 35. The tie 35 is moved so that the edge of the first arm 11 is closely adjacent one edge of the tie 35. The post 25 prevents the opposed end 14 of the first arm 11 from moving laterally across the body member 18.

The opposed end 14 of the second arm 12 is then moved to the right (as viewed in FIG. 6) until the edge of the second arm 12 stretches the lower portion of the tie 35 (as shown in FIG. 7). At this time, the nut 32 of the bolt assembly 30 is tightened. This places the fulcrum pin 31 at its proper position adjacent the second arm 12.

Next, a force is applied to the lower end of the opposed end 14 of the second arm 12 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. '7. The second arm 12 pivots about the fulcrum pin 31 and the free end 13 of the second arm 12 moves outwardly into a stretching relationshipwith the edge of the tie 35 (see FIG. 8). As the free end 13 and the upper portion of the second arm 12 is moved tightly against the tie 35, the stretching of the tie material places opposing forces on the upper portion of the second arm 12 along its contacted length. As shown in FIG. 8, the bolt assembly 33 and its holding pin 34 Y are moved to the left along the lower slot 29 until the opposed end 14 of the second arm 12 is contacted. At this time, the bolt assembly 33 is tightened, holding the lower end of the second arm 12 in its pivoted position. After the'tie 35 has been spotted or cleaned, the bolt assemblies 30 and 33 are released and the tie 35 removed.

It has been found that the tie stretcher 10, according to the present invention, is an efficient means of stretching a tie along the entire length contacted by the arms 11 and 12. As such, the tie stretcher 10 has been found to be an efficient and readily adaptable tool.

What I claim is:

1. Anecktie stretcher comprising, in combination, a pair of flat plates, means securing said plates to each other in parallel, spaced relationship, a pair of elongated stretching arms positioned between said plates and movable generally longitudinally relative to said plates for insertion into the open end of and between the layers of a necktie to be stretched with the open end of such necktie adjacent said plates, means carried by said plates forrestraining the first said arm against angular movement therebetween, the second of said arms being movable laterally and angularly between said plates for selective positioning relative to the first said arm in conformity with the width of the open end and the taper of the necktie to be stretched, fulcrum means on said plates at the edge thereof adjacent the open end of the necktie for retaining the second said arm in selected laterally-spaced positions relative to the first said arm, and means acting on the disengaged end of the second of said arms for holding the second said arm in the selected angular relationship relative to the first said arm.

2. A necktie stretcher, according to claim 1, wherein said means for restraining the first said arm against angular movement comprises a post extending between said plates adjacent said first arm.

3. A necktie stretcher, according to claim 1, wherein said fulcrum means. includes a slot defined by said plates and a fulcrum pin mounted for movement in such slot, said fulcrum pin being movable in such slot to a fulcrum position, and means for holding said fulcrum pin at such fulcrum position. i

4. A necktie stretcher, according to claim 3, wherein said holding meansacting on the disengaged end of the second of said arms includes a second slot defined by said plates, and a holding pin mounted for movement in such second slot. 7 i

5. A necktie stretcher comprising, in combination, first and second longitudinally extending arms, said arms having free ends, for insertion in a tie, and opposed ends, means for restraining the opposed end of said first arm from moving laterally toward the opposed end of said second arm, a body member including means for receiving said first and second longitudinally extending arms, fulcrum means for positioning said second arm a predetermined distance from said first arm and for acting as a pivot point, whereby the free end of said second arm may be pivoted to a pivoted position away from said free end of said first arm, said fulcrum means including a slot defined by said body member and a fulcrum pin mounted for movement in such slot, said fulcrum pin being movable in such slot to a fulcrum position, and means for holding said fulcrum pin at such fulcrum position, and means for holding said opposed end of said second arm in its pivoted position, including a second slot defined by said body member, and a holding pin mounted for movement in such second slot.

6. A necktie stretcher, according to claim 5, wherein said receivingmeans comprises first and second plates, said plates being spaced, said first and second longitudinally extending arms being positioned between said first and second plates.

7. A necktie stretcher comprising, in combination, first and second longitudinally extending arms, a body member having first and second spaced plates, side members on op osed sides of said spaced plates, said first and secon arms being positioned between said 

1. A necktie stretcher comprising, in combination, a pair of flat plates, means securing said plates to each other in parallel, spaced relationship, a pair of elongated stretching arms positioned between said plates and movable generally longitudinally relative to said plates for insertion into the open end of and between the layers of a necktie to be stretched with the open end of such necktie adjacent said plates, means carried by said plates for restraining the first said arm against angular movement therebetween, the second of said arms being movable laterally and angularly between said plates for selective positioning relative to the first said arm in conformity with the width of the open end and the taper of the necktie to be stretched, fulcrum means on said plates at the edge thereof adjacent the open end of the necktie for retaining the second said arm in selected laterally-spaced positions relative to the first said arm, and means acting on the disengaged end of the seCond of said arms for holding the second said arm in the selected angular relationship relative to the first said arm.
 2. A necktie stretcher, according to claim 1, wherein said means for restraining the first said arm against angular movement comprises a post extending between said plates adjacent said first arm.
 3. A necktie stretcher, according to claim 1, wherein said fulcrum means includes a slot defined by said plates and a fulcrum pin mounted for movement in such slot, said fulcrum pin being movable in such slot to a fulcrum position, and means for holding said fulcrum pin at such fulcrum position.
 4. A necktie stretcher, according to claim 3, wherein said holding means acting on the disengaged end of the second of said arms includes a second slot defined by said plates, and a holding pin mounted for movement in such second slot.
 5. A necktie stretcher comprising, in combination, first and second longitudinally extending arms, said arms having free ends, for insertion in a tie, and opposed ends, means for restraining the opposed end of said first arm from moving laterally toward the opposed end of said second arm, a body member including means for receiving said first and second longitudinally extending arms, fulcrum means for positioning said second arm a predetermined distance from said first arm and for acting as a pivot point, whereby the free end of said second arm may be pivoted to a pivoted position away from said free end of said first arm, said fulcrum means including a slot defined by said body member and a fulcrum pin mounted for movement in such slot, said fulcrum pin being movable in such slot to a fulcrum position, and means for holding said fulcrum pin at such fulcrum position, and means for holding said opposed end of said second arm in its pivoted position, including a second slot defined by said body member, and a holding pin mounted for movement in such second slot.
 6. A necktie stretcher, according to claim 5, wherein said receiving means comprises first and second plates, said plates being spaced, said first and second longitudinally extending arms being positioned between said first and second plates.
 7. A necktie stretcher comprising, in combination, first and second longitudinally extending arms, a body member having first and second spaced plates, side members on opposed sides of said spaced plates, said first and second arms being positioned between said plates and said side members, a post spaced from one of said side members and extending between said plates for restraining said first arm from lateral movement across said body member, upper and lower generally parallel slots defined by said plates, a fulcrum pin mounted for movement within such upper slot and a holding pin mounted for movement in such lower slot, said fulcrum pin and said holding pin being positioned on opposite sides of said second arm. 